Kilmarnock passed up the chance to go second in the Ladbrokes Premiership by succumbing to a 2-1 defeat by Hearts at Rugby Park.
On a frozen Ayrshire night the visitors scored through Sean Clare and former Killie favourite Steven Naismith late in the first half but leaving time for winger Jordan Jones to reduce the deficit with a penalty.
Steve Clarke's side battled hard in the second half to draw level and there was no faulting their effort – but the well-organised Edinburgh side remained rigid in defending their lead.
Killie remain behind second-placed Rangers on goal difference and six points behind Celtic with the Old Firm having games to play this weekend against St Mirren and St Johnstone respectively.
Hearts had won 1-0 on their last visit to Rugby Park last August and they gave as good as they got in the hard-fought early stages.
In the 10th minute Kilmarnock goalkeeper Dan Bachmann made a decent save from midfielder Arnaud Djoum's long-distance drive, another effort from similar range minutes later flying high over the bar.
Killie hit back. In the 19th minute a fierce cross from the right by Chris Burke almost caught out Colin Doyle, who then saved a left-footed shot from the former Rangers player – who blasted a third effort at the Jambos keeper moments later.
The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute when Clare took a Djoum pass and all too easily moved into space at the edge of the box before drilling a shot low past Bachmann and in off the post.
Hearts' well-worked second goal came two minutes before the break when Clare's quick free-kick to Jake Mulraney down the left was swiftly cut back for Naismith to sweep into the net from six yards.
It looked like the Gorgie side would take a two-goal lead into the break but when Hearts skipper Christophe Berra brought down midfielder Alan Power inside the box, referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot and Jones – who has signed a pre-contract with Rangers – almost casually stroked in the penalty.
Hearts' midfielder Olly Lee replaced winger Callumn Morrison for the start of the second half and he had to help stem inevitable Killie pressure.
In the 55th minute a Power free-kick from 30 yards missed the target by a yard but when Demetri Mitchell came on for Mulraney midway through the second half the visitors were beginning to look more assured.
Killie made two changes in the 78th minute, with Liverpool loanee striker Liam Millar coming on to make his debut along with Rory McKenzie as Greg Taylor and Burke made way.
Moments later, Millar headed a Stuart Findlay cross over the bar from eight yards, before Mitchell, in a rare Jambos counter-attack, hooked the ball over the bar from close range as the home side failed to find an equaliser.
